Driver facing charges following fiery crash

Chelsea Deffenbacher @ChelseaDeffenB

Tuesday

Aug 1, 2017 at 12:01 AM

SPRINGFIELD — A driver will be charged with felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence of intoxicants, after he is treated for injuries following a fiery crash Monday near Bi-Mart on Mohawk Boulevard in Springfield.

Michael Loren Wyman, 29, of Springfield has been charged with DUII, driving with a suspended license, two counts of hit-and-run, two counts of reckless endangering, two counts of fourth-degree assault, reckless driving and not having insurance, Springfield police Lt. Scott McKee said Monday.

The names of his two passengers had not yet been released as of Monday afternoon. All three were taken to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, where their conditions were not immediately known.

The crash happened just after 1 p.m., when a red Nissan pickup truck hit two parked cars and one in motion in the Bi-Mart parking lot, according to police.

The pickup then launched over a curb at an estimated speed of 60 mph, McKee said at the crash site.

At that point, Wyman reportedly lost control, and the pickup turned onto its side, skidding into a nearby tree.

The truck then burst into flames, according to witnesses.

Employees of two nearby businesses — K9 Chronic LLC and Keystone Real Estate — helped the pickup’s occupants get out of the truck and used fire extinguishers to put out the fire before emergency crews arrived.

One of the truck’s occupants had missing teeth and several cuts on his face as a result of the crash, a witness said.

Shortly after the crash, a woman posted on Facebook, “Prayers please. My baby daddy is seriously injured. This is what happens when you drink and drive! My boyfriend could have lost his life, being in the truck with (an) intoxicated driver,” followed by crying emojis.